The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that Chinese reconnaissance buoys were seized in Arctic waters, a development first reported by the Globe and Mail. The incident traces back to autumn 2022, when the buoys were subsequently returned to China. Retired Lieutenant General Michael Day discussed the episode, suggesting the devices likely served to track the movement of United States nuclear submarines beneath the Arctic ice and to map seabed features and ice thickness. Day added that Beijing keeps a close eye on northern shipping routes, areas that are becoming more accessible as Arctic conditions shift with climate change. Meanwhile, a separate prior case involved a roughly 1.5-meter diameter ball found ashore along the coast of Japan. Experts determined the object was hollow after inspection. In early February, the United States intercepted and shot down a Chinese balloon off the coast of South Carolina, with the Biden administration stating the balloon was believed to be aimed at monitoring sensitive U.S. military facilities. The broader context ties these incidents to ongoing tensions over maritime domain awareness and technology-enabled surveillance in high-latitude regions.
